Made in Korea

One of the finest historical dramas!

Made in Korea is one of the most extraordinary series I have ever watched and, in my opinion, one of the finest historical dramas I have seen, particularly in its exploration of politics, power and diplomacy. Watching both seasons together made the experience even more complete, allowing the story to unfold as one cohesive and powerful work. 💯❤️👏🏻

The production is outstanding in every respect. The direction, cinematography, atmosphere, soundtrack, sound design and overall execution come together to create a truly exceptional experience. Every element contributes to the intensity and authenticity of the story.

What impressed me most was the acting. The performances were so vivid, convincing and intense that I sometimes felt as though I were actually part of the story, witnessing and experiencing those events as they unfolded in real life during that era. The actors did not simply portray their characters; they made them feel real, bringing their lives, struggles and inner conflicts remarkably close to the viewer.

Hyun Bin deserves special recognition for his extraordinary portrayal of Baek Ki Tae. The character is fascinating, complex and, at times, shocking, and Hyun Bin reveals so many layers of his personality through his performance. His intensity and ability to convey the character’s different sides left a profound impression on me and showcased the remarkable depth of his talent.

Jung Woo Sung, Woo Do Hwan, Seo Eun Soo, Won Ji An, Jung Sung Il, Jang Hye Jin and Roh Jae Won also deserve praise for their compelling and convincing performances. The entire cast is excellent, including those in smaller roles. The strength of the acting is not limited to a few leading performers; everyone contributes to the authenticity and impact of the series.

One detail that particularly resonated with me was Ki Tae’s insistence on yeomchi (염치), a sense of shame, honour and moral self-respect that prevents a person from acting without conscience. His words about people who betray others without the slightest sense of shame stayed with me. As a Greek, I found a meaningful connection with Aidōs (Αἰδώς), an ancient Greek concept associated with moral conscience, dignity and the inner restraint that keeps a person from acting dishonourably. Although these concepts are not identical, their shared emphasis on inner moral responsibility felt deeply familiar to me. The return to this idea in moments of betrayal made it even more powerful. It was a detail that gave the series an additional layer of meaning for me, reminding me that certain fundamental questions about honour, conscience and what it means to remain human transcend cultural boundaries.

A production of this calibre is the result of collective effort. From the writing and direction to the performances and every contribution behind the scenes, each part matters. Made in Korea is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when the entire team works together at such a high level.

An extraordinary series in its storytelling, performances, production and emotional impact. One that stayed with me not only for its quality, but also for the ideas it made me reflect on! ❤️ 10+/10

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I was expecting...more?

This drama wasn't bad at all, I actually enjoyed it. It's just that sometimes it felt like it was trying to be too many things at the same time and failed to excel at any of them, which makes me think that with more episodes it could have worked better. Sometimes I couldn't tell whether Kitae had it all planned out or if he was just a lucky man. In any case, the six episode format wasn't all bad because the episodes were entertaining enough and didn't feel rushed. The cast and the acting were truly incredible, with a standout performance from Woo-sung, who stole the show for me. I'll be waiting for the second season just to see how this story continues, hoping it improves a bit in the areas where it felt a bit weak.

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KCIA drug smuggling operation during the military rule

The first episode on the hijacked plane was simply great, It was like a full movie, without any filler scemes. Tremendously entertaining and suspense filled. We are introduced to Baek Ki Tae and find out he's an intelligence agent hustling a side job.

In ep 2 as we're still wondering about how on earth can intelligence agents actually be running a drug production and smuggling operation, we get sidetracked into a story of a woman who returns to Korea and seems to be able to blackmail all of the men sitting at the top of the military junta. Baek Ki Tae is tasked with babysitting her. Ep 2 starts to fill me with doubts about the drama as queen Cho Yeo Jung's character is a totally pathetic character wanting to have a fling with Baek Ki Tae. But we get excellent comedic scenes with prosecutor Jang Gun Yeong (Jung Woo Sung) and his female sidekick (Seo Eun Soo) chasing after the ice cooker Dae Il.

By ep 3 the comedy is gone. We're thrown into internal intrigues in the intelligence agency and goverment top brass fighting each other (boring). For some reason we get short scenes of Baek Ki Tae's brother and sister. Their role in the drama remains vague as each have abt 5 mins of screentime.

Last 3 episodes, more of the same. Prosecutor fights hard, Baek Ki Tae fights back, big shots fight each other and we take sidetrips to Japan and back, Vietnam and back, each lasting about 5 mins. Barely time to drink a coffee in each destination, much less a beer. Much fighting. That's about it. Everything that could have been interesting, is glossed over.

The story of KCIA drug smuggling operation during the military rule had ingredients for a 30 episode drama. Yet they squeezed it into 6 episodes. Like a synopsis without well developed characters, without in-depth exploration of the historical background, without properly giving a life to all the players and characters involved. If this had been a c-drama (like Narcotic Operation) we'd have spent 3 episodes hanging out in Vietnam alone. Having a real heart to heart discussion over a beer.

I really didn't get Woo Do Hwan's role. It's not like we really got to know Baek Ki Tae's family. Or the yakuza family that had max 20 mins screentime during the whole run (so why even introduce it).

Yes, there's going to be S2, but I already struggled to keep up with the plot when the episodes were 1 week apart. Can't imagine to remember anything about this when S2 eventually drops.

I believe Disney had a full script but butchered it just like they did with Arthdal Chronicles' final season. Disney is all action and little character depth or world building.

Jung Woo Sung was absolutely stellar in this though. It's worth watching his acting which, as one of the reviews says, is like he was acting in the real masterpiece of a drama that Made in Korea could have been. I have to mention also Roh Jae Won, he was excellent. Hyun Bin's character is a ruthless murderer and drug trader and people mistook him for a good guy. He was pretty good and shed his usually goofiness but would have needed to go one step further to portray true evil (which can be done by small gestures).

This is a 7.5.

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Gripping political noir which fell victim to its writing

Made In Korea had grabbed my attention last year due to its cast and premise. I kept up with it for the first 4 episodes but later on, I ultimately put it on hold. Since the second installment of the series has started airing, I decided to watch the first part again and finish it at last.

Set in the 1970s South Korea, the drama tells a story of power and ambition, driven by the vulnerable political scene and the systemic power during this era. The main characters, Baek Kitae and Jang Gun Yeong, represent two clashing ideologies. The first one works with the KCIA and seeks more power for himself by selling drugs while the latter one is a prosecutor who wants to fight for justice and bring Baek Kitae behind the bars. Their conflict shapes the story and alongside that, the narration follows political schemes, drug deals and a constant fight for power.

From the very first glance, one can tell that this drama had budget. And a very big one, since it was reported that 70 billion won ($51 million) was spent on this series. The production is awestruck to say the least and viewers who appreciate rich settings will definitely receive a visual feast. Like Low Life, another Disney drama which was set in 1970, Made In Korea portrayed this era accurately, not only from the visual perspective only but the political one, too.

The cinematography and camera work highlighted the intense atmosphere throughout the drama. The darker and mundane colours added to the bleak and dark plot, giving a feeling of uneasiness. As for the soundtrack which accompanied the drama, it was very retro and yet dynamic when it needed to. As someone who loves instrumental tracks, the music was very funto listen to and I appreciated the usage of violin, trumpets and the piano. "Inhale the Throne" and "Longing For Love Again" were two of the most distinguished titles for me. The first one was a classical, soothing yet eerie piece while the second one had more jazz vibes, giving a feeling of melancholy and bitterness.

The acting was by all means one of the strongest cards of this drama, if not the strongest. Most of the actors delivered exactly what was expected from them and I even dare to say that they were better than the characters they were supposed to portray.

That was my very first time watching Hyun Bin in a project and I can confirm that people who are obsessed with him are not wrong at all. Not many actors can pull off the role of a villain in a charismatic way and yet, Hyun Bin not only captivated me with his presence alone, but he made me root for Baek Kitae at times, too. He embodied Kitae's cold and ambitious personality effortlessly, allowing himself to express a glimpse of humanity in some rare occasions, thus highlighting Kitae's complexity.

Jung Woo Sung as Prosecutor Jang was entertaining and chaotic, to say the least. He did a good job with his character and unlike other viewers who disliked his laughter, I must say I found it kinda amusing, it was a nice trait to Gun Yeong's character and it added to his kinda unhinged personality. That being said, for this type of role, I would have liked a more mature approach but that is not the actor's fault.

I saw Won Ji An for the first time in Squid Game 2 and to tell the truth, the first time I watched Made In Korea, it didn't cross my mind that she was the same actress. While rewatching the first episodes and after learning that information, I was left surprised because her acting had picked my interest during my first watch, too! She was fierce as Choi Yu Ji, she encapsulated her cold and cunning personality perfectly and she was oh so magnetic to watch. I loved the way she carried herself and how she matched Hyun Jin's experience during their scenes.

But one of the best acting performances came from a guest appearance and that was none other than Cho Yeo Jung as Bae Geum Ji on episode 3. What can I say about this woman, she stole the show with just one episode, during the rewatch for the first episodes, I anticipated her appearance so much. She felt like a breath of fresh air in the story. Elegant, playful and yet tragic, Bae Geum Ji was a woman who longed for a meaningful relationship and someone who actually loved her. Yeo Jung was simply magnificent and she moved with how she conveyed Geum Ji's tragedy.

From a technical standpoint, Made In Korea is almost perfect. But when I watch something, I also want to feel engaged to the story or the characters. And this is where Made In Korea fell short for me (literally and figuratively).

For a political series, which explores themes like corruption, power and ambition, the story came across as rather...bland? There were some good segments here and there and most episodes had their own highlights but overall, the story failed to grab my interest. The drugs trafficking was uninteresting, I understand the purpose but I wasn't invested in this part of the story and how Baek Kitae run his underground business. I preferred the parts which focused directly at the characters' relationships and the power dynamics between them, it highlighted the themes better.

The pacing was so-so. The first four episodes were good but the more I watched, the more I remembered why I had put the drama on hold in the first place. Even for such a short series, with just 6 episodes, the story still felt kinda dragged at times. The last episode in particular was hard to get through. What I noticed is that it was always the middle sections which seemed lackluster to me. The beginning and the ending of each episode was gripping and interesting but there were some moments in-between which dragged the story back.

I am aware of the fact that political thrillers tend to be plot driven rather character driven. That being said, this format can be a hit or miss for me, since I prioritize characterization most of the time. If a plot is engaging enough, I can excuse the writing of the characters to some extent and vice versa. Here, both the story and characters failed to grab my attention as much as I wanted to.

Baek Kitae was the only properly fleshed out character (although, he too had his flaws regarding his writing). Even though I wanted more of his backstory, I understood his desperation to climb higher in hierarchy and establish a better life for his siblings, especially his brother. That being said, I wish we had seen more moments between him and his family. Not necessarily to justify his actions but just to see the humane side the writers tried to showcase. There was a brief moment on episode 6 between him and Baek Gi Hyun, which conveyed his protective side but that wasn't enough to properly establish the drifting relationship between the brothers.

Jang Gun Yeong wasn't as compelling as Baek Kitae. As I mentioned above, I would have preferred a more mature and laid down approach for his character, compared to the exaggerated version we got. His background was interesting and I understood his need for justice and punishment but overall, he seemed pretty one-dimensional to me. I didn't like that he was comedic at times, it kinda took me out and prevented me from taking him seriously. His character shined the best when he was serious and passionate about his goal and that should have been the approach from the start.

Woo Do Hwan felt more like a guest star instead of a supporting actor, to be honest. Baek Gi Hyun was a very interesting character and I definitely expect to see more of him in the second part but in the first season, he was...there. I don't even thing that his screen time can surpass 10 minutes in these six episodes. As a result, the drama failed to build a proper foundation for the relationship between the two brothers and I'm afraid that this might affect my experience while I'll be watching season 2, since I am not very emotionally invested in this relationship.

The discrepancy between the male and female characters when it came to the writing was, unfortunately, very evident. Investigator Oh Ye Jin was fun and I liked her personality, but I would have liked to see more of her development, instead of being treated as a comic relief girl-boss. Baek Kitae's sister was also very reduced as a person, I couldn't bring myself to care a lot about her.

In retrospect, I feel like Made In Korea would have had a better reception had both parts been released together, instead of being separated. It's clear that part 2 will dive deeper into the characters and their dynamics compared to part 1, which felt more like an introduction instead of a fleshed out season. Nevertheless, I am eager to see how this story will end. I appreciate the quality of this drama and I am more than curious to see who will prevail in this battle for power.

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Loved it

I enjoyed watching this series-after watching part 1, I could not wait for Part 2. It delivers on all fronts. Hyun Bin, as expected. did fantastically well acting the part. Woo Do Hwan held up his end as well. Can't say the same for Jang Gun Yeong. though. That fake laugh, intentional or not is just, well, fake. His drastic characterization change in part 2, is also just inconsistent with his whole back story. But anyway... my gripe is the ending. I hated it (and I don't use that word lightly). I've come to expects twists and shock value as part of usual kdramas, but honestly, the ending lacked the emotional depth and consistency with the entire family narrative. I understand the reason behind it, and he may have had the legal , duty and moral authority to do it, but weighing that against Hyun Bin's sacrifices, even as KCIA head, just seems shallow. It goes against the emotional investment that audience was geared up for. It was also inconsistent with the story--just a twist for shock value, in my opinion. Anyway, I highly recommend watching this. especially for thriller lovers like me. Two thumbs up!

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Pretty addicting

Made in Korea is a pretty addicting, pretty awesome, pretty spectacular drama that has a very interesting story filled with many surprises to keep the viewer guessing, analysing and thinking about the drama with every episode that they watch. The characters are all unique and all of them have their own individual part to play in terms of the story, making them seem all very important - which is always a good thing to see. I really enjoyed how they used real life events and seemingly brought them together but put their on spin on things to create this story, something which is very difficult to execute normally but for this drama, it somehow works, and it works very well. The OST is incredible and it's been a very long time since I have truly fallen in love with an OST of a drama, but thanks to Made in Korea I can replay the catchy music over-and-over again in my head whenever I want. Rewatch value is also high compared to my usual rating in that specific category as I felt the majority of episodes only felt about 20 to 30 minutes long even though they were usually around 60 episodes.

If you're wondering whether or not to watch this, I would recommend it.

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Hyun Bin finally goes berserk

The first two episodes failed to grab my attention because the story felt like a politically grey drama, which is a genre I usually know isn't my type. I was on the fence about whether to drop the series entirely or give it one more shot, but pushing through to episode three completely redeemed the show for me as the pacing picked up significantly.

Hyun Bin’s performance here appeals to me far more than his role in Crash Landing on You. In CLOY, his character felt surprisingly dull, but he shines as a villain here. It is a reminder that he should take on more complex, dynamic roles rather than playing it safe with flat characters. Beyond his performance, the casting for the Baek brothers is phenomenal; you could easily convince me they are real-life siblings based on their screen dynamic.

the part where those entitled POS higher up offered a drink to the prosecutor by taking his shoes off and pouring it there for him to drink it ?! i would've just walked out then and there this is degrading to a person.

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Hyun Bin's Best Work Till Date, Obviously!!

This show is political espionage that is equal parts thrilling & disappointing!

Hyun Bin delivers the most consistent yet heinous villain in existence. Yes, for those unaware, he plays an antagonistic with a screwed moral compass. He is brash, bold and determined to make money; he wants to own power and make his life more comfortable. None of his actions make sense, he is questionable, and he is a certified terrorist parading as a member of KCIA. I have no idea of how KCIA worked in that era, or how much more power it held over the prosecution; but from start to end, the show is a personal revenge saga between a KCIA agent and a prosecutor. Meth smuggling is just the pretext; it is a chess game, played by both sides. While Hyun Bin gives a believable performance as a flawed KCIA agent, it is Jung Woo Sung who wins your heart. Jang Gun Yeong is persistently determined to dealing with meth dealers, no matter who they are.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2026/01/15/made-in-korea-series-review/

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?️ Made in Korea — Power, Politics & Hyun Bin Doing His Thing

Hyun Bin is back — and yes, the acting is as solid as ever. 🙌 This drama leans heavily into the political side of things, showing how parties play their cards to look like they’re protecting the nation, while in reality… they might just be shielding criminals. And honestly, that angle feels uncomfortably realistic.

I’m really enjoying the political drama so far — the power games, the moral grey areas, and the tension between truth and image. Acting-wise, it’s strong across the board, with Hyun Bin carrying that calm-but-dangerous presence perfectly.
That said, don’t come here expecting a sweeping love story. Romance is clearly not the focus, and the OST is also pretty low-key — it does the job, but it won’t stay stuck in your head.

So if you’re into serious political dramas, smart storytelling, and watching powerful people expose their own hypocrisy, Made in Korea is definitely worth checking out. If romance is your priority… you might want to look elsewhere. 😅

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I Was Expecting More

I almost dropped this one. The first couple of episodes didn’t hold my attention. However, it’s starting to become more interesting, and I’m now curious about what will happen in the next episode.

I have to say, this is one of the few K-dramas where the female characters are not annoying. The female roles are well-written and well-performed. The male roles are decent as well, with the exception of Jung Woo Sung. I can’t quite put my finger on what doesn’t work for me, but his laugh really has to go. It’s not funny, sinister, or creepy—it’s just… not.

The sudden bursts of slapstick comedy also feel out of place and disrupt the overall tone.

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Not for Me

The whole time I was watching this, I only had one question in my mind: Why?

I really couldn’t find anything that made me want to keep watching, and that says a lot, especially since the drama only has six episodes. Even with such a short length, I couldn’t bring myself to finish it.

To be fair, I only watched the first two episodes, so I can’t say much about how the plot develops later on. However, within those two episodes, I didn’t find anything interesting enough to keep me engaged.

The characters were also a big issue for me. I found them quite obnoxious, and unfortunately, I ended up disliking all of them, which made it even harder to stay invested in the story.

I don’t really have much more to say about it. For me, this was a drop, but of course, others might still enjoy it.

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Stile impeccabile, cast memorabile, sceneggiatura che necessita del rinforzo del sequel

“Made in Korea” cattura lo spettatore fin da subito con un inizio ad effetto, un dirottamento aereo girato come un film d’azione hollywoodiano, per poi trasformarsi in un thriller politico ambientato nella Corea del Sud degli anni ’70. Non lo definirei un capolavoro assoluto, ma nemmeno un’occasione sprecata, piuttosto una curiosa e apprezzabile via di mezzo che alterna luci abbaglianti e ombre profonde.
Punti di forza indiscussi della serie sono la componente visiva-tecnica e il cast. Rispetto alla prima, la fotografia è curatissima, capace di restituire l’atmosfera opprimente e sporca della dittatura militare di Park Chung Hee. Saltano agli occhi gli ambienti trascurati e deprimenti, dai luoghi di lavoro alle abitazioni private fino alle riprese girate per strada. Le location, i costumi, le luci e la colonna sonora strumentale costruiscono un mondo particolarmente affascinante, dove ogni inquadratura è studiata nel dettaglio. Una particolare menzione va alla scena finale, uno spaccato in bianco e nero di notevole impatto, visivo ed emotivo. E’ una vera e propria chiusura in bellezza, che cala il sipario elegantemente e con la tacita promessa di sollevarlo di nuovo (la serie prevede infatti un sequel).
Per quanto riguarda il cast, ci si è davvero superati: da una parte uno splendido Hyun Bin, di ritorno ai drama dopo ben sette anni dal suo ultimo lavoro – “Crash landing on you” – che lo ha consacrato a livello internazionale. Attore più noto per ruoli romantici ed eroici, qui si trasforma in un villain multi sfaccettato, un narcotrafficante senza scrupoli, freddo e calcolatore, che perdipiù lavora per i servizi segreti coreani. Il ritratto che offre è altamente caratterizzante: l’espressione trattenuta, una sigaretta accesa con lentezza, un sorriso che non arriva mai agli occhi. Al suo fianco, Jung Woo Sung è il contraltare perfetto: attore per me nuovo e principalmente dedito a film piuttosto che a serie tv, riesce a dare vita a un personaggio davvero unico e credibile: il suo procuratore Jang Geon Yeong è un tornado caotico, genuino e quasi comico in certi frangenti – la sua risata, così compiaciuta ed eccessiva, ne è un esempio - ma con una determinazione incrollabile. La loro dinamica è di fatto il vero motore della serie.
Accanto a loro, l’apparizione un po’ fugace di Woo Do Hwan nei panni del fratello di Baek Gi Tae – che conto però riesca a ritagliarsi maggiore spazio nel sequel – e soprattutto Jung Sung II, attore che ho già visto e apprezzato in “The Glory” e che, ancora una volta, interpreta un personaggio intrigante ed ermetico, capace di emanare un’aura di potente sicurezza e di mettere anche un po’ di soggezione. Molto buona anche la prova di Seo Eun Soo nel ruolo dell’ispettrice Oh, mentre Won Ji An veste un po’ a fatica i panni della figlia adottiva della Yakuza, la mafia giapponese.
Meno solida è invece la struttura narrativa. Il drama conta in tutto sei episodi: troppi per essere un film, troppo pochi per sviluppare adeguatamente l’intricato groviglio di personaggi e sottotrame che introduce. L’effetto, in alcuni tratti, è quello di una sinossi illustrata: si salta dal Vietnam al Giappone in dieci minuti, la yakuza viene prima citata e poi introdotta, ma resta l’impressione di non averla mai inquadrata veramente; vi è un accenno a un passato nella guerra del Vietnam che resta quasi uno sfondo decorativo, salvo poi cercare di acquisire un senso verso la fine. Le relazioni – in primis quelle tra i fratelli Baek – sono solo abbozzate e appaiono più come delle premesse che quali legami vissuti.
Questa compressione genera, di fatto, uno strano paradosso: la serie è allo stesso tempo troppo lenta e troppo veloce. Troppo lenta quando si perde in dialoghi tra uomini di potere – si arriva fino ai vertici della Casa Blu – tra mosse e contromosse, doppio giochi che diventano tripli, se non quadrupli o quintupli. Troppo veloce quando, per arrivare alla fine, si risolvono conflitti complessi con un colpo di scena o un’azione violenta, senza dare il tempo allo spettatore di elaborare il tutto. Vuole essere al contempo un thriller serrato e un drama politico profondo, ma alla fine non è pienamente né l’una né l’altra cosa.
Un altro nodo critico sono le figure femminili, davvero sotto tono. Siamo nella Corea degli anni ’70, un contesto patriarcale, e la serie non fa nulla per scalfire questo scenario. Le attrici sono relegate a ruoli di contorno: la spalla comica, la donna isterica, la pedina da proteggere o da usare. Fa eccezione il personaggio di Ikeda/Choi Yu Ji, una donna fredda e ambiziosa, ma la sua presenza è limitata e non del tutto convincente.
Eppure, nonostante tutto, Made in Korea è comunque un drama che si lascia ampiamente apprezzare e che mi sento di consigliare, in primis per la scelta insolita e a suo modo rischiosa: in un panorama ormai saturo di romance e fantasy, un thriller politico cupo, senza il prevedibile lieto fine e con un protagonista malvagio è paragonabile a una boccata d’aria fresca. Inoltre, la seconda stagione potrebbe compensare le pecche sopracitate, dando più spazio ai personaggi secondari e riprendendo le sottotrame lasciate in sospeso. Sicuramente, ad oggi e senza quindi una seconda stagione, “Made in Korea” appare come un drama imperfetto, per quanto affascinante. Il classico prodotto “di prestigio” che pecca di un po’ di presunzione, dove l’estetica e l’alto livello del cast non annullano i difetti della sceneggiatura. Le sei ore passate davanti allo schermo non sono però un peso, soprattutto grazie alle interpretazioni di Hyun Bin e Jung Woo Sung, ma alla fine si resta con la sensazione di aver assistito a una grande prova di stile più che a una grande storia. Per quest’ultima, a quanto pare, sarà imprescindibile attendere la seconda stagione.

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